Clinton women killed in crash

A Clinton woman was killed last Wednesday in a two-vehicle crash on Clinton Highway in Knox County and charges against a Clinton driver are pending the outcome of the investigation.

by Beverly Majors

A Clinton woman was killed last Wednesday in a two-vehicle crash on Clinton Highway in Knox County and charges against a Clinton driver are pending the outcome of the investigation.

According to a news release from Darrell DeBusk, Knoxville Police Department public information officer, 48-year-old Sharon Barison of Clinton was killed in the 8:25 a.m. head-on collision.

DeBusk reported Barison was the front seat passenger in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by 51-year-old James Daugherty, also of Clinton. Powell resident Jessica Ivey, 31, was the rear seat passenger.

The other driver was 69-year-old Gabriel Ferrari of Rutledge, who was driving a Toyota Sienna van. Ferrari was properly restrained and not injured.

However, according to DeBusk, the three occupants of the Monte Carlo were not properly restrained. They were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville, where Barison was pronounced dead a short time after arriving at the hospital. Ivey reportedly had possible life-threatening injuries and Daugherty reportedly had non-life threatening injuries.

The crash happened north of Murray Drive across from Shimla Auto Sales at 6271 Clinton Highway. The Monte Carlo was reportedly traveling south in the northbound lanes when it crossed into the opposite lanes and hit the van head-on.

According to DeBusk, speed was a factor in the crash and Daugherty is suspected of driving under the influence.

A legal blood draw was obtained from both drivers as is mandatory in a fatal crash. A blood sample was sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation lab for analysis and charges are pending.